Is it possible to rent an apartment (from professional landlords) in the USA without providing social security number? The good news is that you do not need an SSN on an apartment rental application to screen a prospective tenant.Doing a background check without a Social Security number from a rental can often be done. To rent an apartment in Virginia, you'll need a valid ID, proof of income, references, and sometimes a credit check consent. Although not all landlords will need you to have a Social Security number, pretty much all of them will require some sort of legal documentation. If the applicant does not have a social security number, you generally can't run a credit report or nationwide criminal check.